Making Limoncello

[blue_dolphin]

Welcome to eGullet, @Skyclad!  

You are correct.  You can find a suggestion to use a microplane to zest the lemons and much discussion in the Limoncello thread that @Smithy linked to.

[Skyclad]

Hello, and thanks for all your comments on my Limoncello question..  

So, as an extension to this general topic (please let me know if I need to start a new thread for this), I wanted to ask your opinions on how long I should let the vodka and lemon zest sit given I DID NOT use 100 proof but the 40%/80 proof stuff..  My question is...........what is the minimal amount of time for this to turn out well..  My significant other and I are pretty impatient.....:)

Thanks in advance any info on this....!

[EvergreenDan]

Try tasting what you have (by adding sugar and vodka or water). That said, I believe most people "rest" their lemoncello after its been made for quite a while. I make "Amer Boudreau", a homemade imitation of Amer Picon, and it definitely is better after it has rested in the bottle for a year. That said, I'm drinking the few-months-old batch right now because I ran out.

[Skyclad]

Hello EvergreenDan, and thanks for your response back..

Please forgive, but I'm unsure what you are suggesting above..  Right now, I have the vodka and lemon zest together marrying..........and the sugar/water mix does not go in (according to my recipe anyway.........via Giada Laurentis) until the marinating has completed..  I'm just wondering how long I should allow this marinating to occur given the lower alcohol vodka I have used..

Thanks again to all info you guys can provide.... 

[Craig E]

I think what he's saying is tasting it is the only trustworthy way to judge how the extraction is going, so you can mix up a little microbatch with what you have (a very small amount of your vodka mixture and proportional bits of sugar and water to get your taster to target sweetness and proof) and decide from there if it needs more time or not.

[Tri2Cook]

I used 80 proof when I made mine. I followed the instructions here which says "at least 2 weeks, until the peels look pale and the vodka is no longer gaining color or aroma". I didn't worry about additional time for difference in proof, I just started checking at the 2 week point and when I was satisfied nothing else was being gained, I continued with the production. I'm hoping there's no point of diminishing returns regarding shelf life, my batch made 1 1/2 750 ml bottles. I used the 1/2 bottle but the full bottle's been sitting unopened in my cabinet for close to 3 years.

Edit: correction - I just read the post in that linked discussion where I posted about making mine... it's been in the cabinet unopened for more like 6 years. Time flies...

Edited January 21, 2017 by Tri2Cook (log)

[lindag]

Host's note: this refers to making Orangecello; two topics were merged.

 

I just ran across a recipe to make this.  Wow!  I have simply got to get started on it, it sounds amazing.

 

Recipe

 

Any suggestions as to where one would find a 64 oz. bottle (glass)?  Oh, never mind, just found a half gallon growler with lid on Amazon.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Smithy
Added host's note (log)

[blue_dolphin]

A number of people mentioned making orangecello/arancello over in the Limoncello topic.  Since the method is quite similar, you may find some helpful discussion over there.  

I only tried making a small batch of the orange version and ended up with a layer of orange oil on top - maybe because I used more peels than recommended.  The flavor was very nice though!

[Lisa Shock]

Try tangerines, too.

[Duvel]

Yuzu !!!

[lindag]

Day two of my Orangecello mixture

 

 

Edited January 12, 2018 by lindag (log)

[lindag]

I hope I didn't make too big a mistake with my Orangecello; I removed the half vanilla bean and, because I didn't check the recipe carefully enough I went ahead and drained the liquid and tossed the orange peels.  The recipe actually said to remove the bean and continue to steep the peels for another day or two.  Oops.  Had no option other than to plunge ahead so I added a cup of simple syrup to the mix and it's now in the fridge.  (I did take a taste of the mix after removing the bean but it was very harsh.)

I'll take another taste today to see what it's like now that it's finished and chilled.

[Kim Shook]

My BIL just sent us 7 1/2 pounds of lemons from his garden in Phoenix.  I need to use them before they go bad.  I'm thinking lemoncello.  Do we have a tried and true, really good recipe for it somewhere.  The only thing I'm seeing is one for Meyer lemons, which these are not.  Thanks!  

Edited June 8, 2021 by Smithy
Corrected title spelling (log)

[blue_dolphin]

37 minutes ago, Kim Shook said:

 

My BIL just sent us 7 1/2 pounds of lemons from his garden in Phoenix.  I need to use them before they go bad.  I'm thinking lemoncello.  Do we have a tried and true, really good recipe for it somewhere.  The only thing I'm seeing is one for Meyer lemons, which these are not.  Thanks!  

 

I use this guidance, shared by our dearly departed Limoncello Queen, @KatieLoeb

I've used regular Eureka lemons, Meyer lemons, limes, grapefruits and oranges. 

 

[lemniscate]

Limoncello is easy, don't over think it.  I have a generic lemon tree in my backyard also.  Zest the lemons and soak the zest (no white pith!)  in the dark in a bottle of Everclear.    Cheap vodka will work also.  A month aging will do, but the end date is pretty wide open.   I sweeten it after it's done.    You can add cream to it and make the wonderful crema di limoncello also.

 

I've made orangecello.  I've made grapefruitcello also, but I don't recommend it since there is something in the GF zest that makes my tongue go numb.

Edited March 15, 2021 by lemniscate (log)

[Kim Shook]

18 minutes ago, blue_dolphin said:

 

I use this guidance, shared by our dearly departed Limoncello Queen, @KatieLoeb

I've used regular Eureka lemons, Meyer lemons, limes, grapefruits and oranges. 

 

Oh, this is great, @blue_dolphin!  I was SO hoping to find something from Katie!  I must have not done the right search!  

[rotuts]

@Kim Shook 

 

Nice !

 

do not be in a big hurry

 

wipe them down so that they are 

 

sort of dry

 

then refrigerate them

 

an they will keep for some time

 

give's you more time to enjoy them

 

Meat , snf Pith etc

[Kim Shook]

So, my next question is what the heck do I do with the juice from a dozen lemons?  

[rotuts]

keep the juce

 

in its original 

 

container 

 

util you 

 

decide

 

after all

 

try one unit

 

krpmyjrmslin s pitn

 

the think wbounit 

 

nd try two 

 

etc

[Anna N]

4 minutes ago, Kim Shook said:

So, my next question is what the heck do I do with the juice from a dozen lemons?  

Freeze it in ice cube trays. Decant frozen cubes into Ziploc bag. 

[lemniscate]

Freeze it in cubes : or : super-saturate it with sugar and make a lemon syrup for drinks and adding to dessert recipes or over fruit:  or : make lemon curd : or : can it in pint jars for easy storage : or : mix it with white distilled vinegar to make a household lemon scented cleaner...........................

[Kim Shook]

21 minutes ago, lemniscate said:

 or : make lemon curd 

My lemon curd recipe calls for both juice and zest.  Do you have a good one that only calls for juice?  

[lemniscate]

I make it with or without zest.  Just omit the zest in any recipe if you don't have zest.  I actually like curd better without zest.   Lemon curd is still lemony without zest.

 

[Kim Shook]

31 minutes ago, lemniscate said:

I make it with or without zest.  Just omit the zest in any recipe if you don't have zest.  I actually like curd better without zest.   Lemon curd is still lemony without zest.

 

Something just occurred to me and made me laugh.  In trying to use up lemons, I found a recipe that resulted in excess juice.  In trying to find a recipe to use up the juice, I will use my favorite curd recipe that will result in excess egg whites.  So, I'll make an angel food cake to use up the whites.  LOLOLOLOL  From lemons to booze to curd to cake.  They will all go together beautifully. 😄

[lemniscate]

2 hours ago, Kim Shook said:

In trying to find a recipe to use up the juice, I will use my favorite curd recipe that will result in excess egg whites. 

LOL.  I actually use whole eggs in my curd, like this recipe.  I think I get my excess egg whites from making egg nog.  Then I make Munavalgekook cake.